Energy meter testing
What is energy meter testing?
An energy meter is a device that measures the amount of electrical energy supplied to or produced by a residence, business, or machine. Energy meter testing is a process by which a specified electromechanical or electronic electricity meter is compared to a laboratory-standard meter to ensure that measurement accuracy is maintained in the field. The comparisons take place in under both normal and abnormal conditions. Energy meter testing is a type-test process utilizing, in most cases, six production samples.
Underwriters Laboratories® has the ability to test meters as well as their specific "smart" features to the performance requirements of Asia, Australasia, Europe, South Africa and the United States. In addition to the meters themselves, we can also test smart functions such as data loggers. UL's range of capability is continuously being expanded. This global range of continuously expanding testing capabilities positions UL as a trusted and valued partner for your company's entrance into the energy meter market.
Upon completion of an energy meter project, the customer will receive a detailed "Type Verification" report. The UL report provides detailed test results including graphs, plots and data on compliance and noncompliance with the requirements. There are no follow-up inspection requirements as in-service calibration and checks are carried out by energy utilities themselves.
Types of meters tested
- Electromechanical and electronic
- Residential and commercial
- Active and reactive
- Single-phase and polyphase
- Indoor and outdoor
- Import and export
- Smart energy meters
Energy meter services
- Full type testing - testing to the full requirements of the standard
- Alternate construction - testing to the specific national deviations, assuming testing to the full requirements of the standard have already been completed
- Selected clause - customer specifies which specific clauses to be tested against
Standards
Most countries globally require energy meters to be compliant with national or international requirements. In the US, UL utilizes ANSI standards while most countries use IEC-based requirements with national deviations. The key base standard for energy meter testing internationally is IEC 62052-11 and the companion standard IEC 62053. The key base standards for energy meter testing in the United States are ANSI C12.1, ANSI C12.10 and ANSI C12.20. UL is able to test to the following energy meter standards:
- ANSI C12.1-2008 Electric Meters Code for Electricity Metering (classes 10, 20 and 100)
- ANSI C12.10-2004 Physical Aspects of Watthour Meters - Safety Standard
- ANSI C12.20-2002 Electricity Meters- 0.2 and 0.5 Accuracy Classes
- AS 1284.1 General purpose induction watthour meters
- AS 1284.4 Socket mounting system
- AS 1284.5 General purpose electronic watthour meters
- AS 1284.6 Ripple control receivers for tariff and load control
- AS 1284.7 Internal clocks for meters and load control devices
- AS 1284.11 Single-phase multifunction watthour meters
- AS 1284.12 Polyphase multifunction (non-demand) watthour meters
- IEC62051-1 Data exchange for meter reading, tariff and load control
- IEC 62052-11 General requirements, tests and test conditions - Part 11: Metering equipment
- IEC 62052-21 General requirements, tests and test conditions
- IEC 62053-11 Particular requirements - Electromechanical meters for active energy
- IEC 62053-21 Particular requirements - Static meters for active energy
- IEC 62053-22 Particular requirements - Static meters for active energy
- IEC 62053-23 Particular requirements - Static meters for reactive energy
- IEC 62053-31 Particular requirements - Pulse output devices for electromechanical and electronic meters (two wires only)
- IEC 62053-61 Particular requirements - Power consumption and voltage requirements
- IEC 62054-11 Tariff and load control - Particular requirements for electronic ripple control devices
- IEC 62054-21 Tariff and load control - Particular requirements for time switches
- IEC 62055-31 Payment systems - Particular requirements - Static payment meters for active energy (classes 1 and 2)
What is needed for a UL Quote?
For an accurate testing quote, please provide details regarding:
- Which service: Alternate Construction, Full Type Testing or Selected Clause
- Whether the meter measures active and/or reactive power
- Whether the meter requires solar radiation testing (for outdoor use)
- Whether the meter is fitted with load control relays
- Whether the meter is electric or electro mechanical
- Whether the voltage is Single or Polyphase
- What geography the customer intended to sell the meter to
After I accept my quote, what is required for energy meter testing submittal?
For most testing requirements, please provide the following:
- Six samples
- Bill of materials
- Drawings
- Approval certificates on components
- Installation/operating instructions
- Description of product under test
- Any required software
- PCB version numbers
- Firmware version and software version numbers
- Which accuracy class (UL tests classes 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 as defined by the IEC series of standards and classes A, B and C as defined by the BS series of standards)
- If the project is for selected clause testing, what standards and clauses to test to
The UL advantage
Throughout its 115-year history, UL's reputation, experience, knowledge and brand name has been recognized and trusted worldwide by manufactures, retailers, jurisdictional authorities and consumers.
With more than 10 years of experience in testing smart energy meters, UL is one of the most qualified service providers in the market. Some of the biggest names in business call on UL to test their energy meters. We can often conduct all tests associated with a meter evaluation program from a single facility. For example, in addition to core meter accuracy testing, we have in-house testing capability for EMC, vibration, and environmental simulation. This in-house testing saves you time and money by freeing up internal resources and lab space. At UL, we strive to ensure that our testing capability keeps pace with the demands of the rapidly evolving smart meter industry.
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